Means for stiffening partition walls



'June 21, 19321. f l.. I LYEVENE MEANS FhOR 'STIFFENING IARTITION WALLS Filed Aug. 29, 195o yay/f zal Patented Juney 21, 1932 LOUIS I.. LEVENE, F HERRIK, NEW YORK KEANE FOR STIFFENIN G PARTITION WALLS Application led August 29,' 1930. Serial No. 478,673.

This invention relates to partition walls of the type having separate or structurally independent wall sections which may be assembled together in the wall or may be re- 5; moved therefrom as a unit.- More particularl this invention relates to means for sti ening such walls against lateral yielding. Such partition walls have generally been of two klnds. In one of these kinds, posts have been erected running from the floor up to the ceiling between the edges of adjacent wall sections which are fitted to and supported by these posts. In some instances the upper ends of the individual wall sections terminate some l5 distance below the ceiling and this space is then iilled in with additional panels or filler pieces of various kinds. In the other kind of wall construction, a large sized horizontal stiliening rail or cornice rail has been run the full length of the wall along the upper ends of the individual wall sections, particularly where the upper ends of these wall sec tions terminate below the ceiling, the space above such stiienin cornice rail up to the ceiling common y then being filled in with panels or other filler pieces. In fairly long stretches of partition Wall considerable unsightly external bracing has been required for this horizontal stiiening member or cornice rail. Both the above noted post construction and the horizontal stiii'ening rail construction have proved expensive1 cumbersome and inconvenient.

An object of this invention is to eliminate the need .of posts for supporting the wall sections. and also to eliminate the need of a horizontal stiiiening cornice rail for holding in place the upper ends of the wall sections, and to provide simple, inexpensive, ef-

40 ective and convenient means for stii'lening the partition wall along the upper ends of the several assembled sections thereof, with any desired amount of spacing between the upper ends of these wall sections and the ceiling or other upper parts of the building. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In carrying out the invention, a substantially rigid vertical stiiiening member has its upper end held against transverse movement by means secured to the ceiling or other upper (part of the building and extends downwar into part way overlapping relation with one of the wall sections, to the frame of which this stil'ening member isA secured against relative movement in a plane transverse to the section and wall, .the stiles of adjacent sections being directly secured together or to one another. More particularly, in carrying out the invention, the stiles of adjacent sections in the series are spaced from one another and the said stiffening member, of which any desired number may be employed, extends downward between the spaced stiles of adjacent sections in overlapping relation with the upper end portions only thereof and terminates above the lower ends of these stiles, these spaced stiles being rigidly but detachably connected together by means of a vertical series of clamping devices some of which also detachably grip and hold in place this stiiening member. The invention also further includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as will apomitted and broken away, showing more particularly the stiii'ening means of this invention as embodied in the partition wall construction;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged partial horizontal section taken on the lines 3--3 of Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one ofthe complete structurally independent wall sections which appear in Fig. 1 and shown in Fig. 4. as separated or disassembled from the wall; and

Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal section similar to Fig. 3 but taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Each of the wall sections, such as that shown separately in Fig. 4 and those assembled in a consecutive series of four such sections in the partition wall construction shown in Fig. 1, has a panel-supporting frame comprising stiles 1 which are vconnected together by cross rails extending between these stlles, including an upper rail 2, -a lower rail 3, and shown as further including two intermediate cross rails 4 and 5, so that thus three panels 6, 7 and 8 are mounted in this frame, o these panels being of any suit able material, the two upper panels 6 and 7 being indicated as glass, while the lower panel 8 is indicated in the drawing as being of some other material, which may be anything desired. The lowerl ends of these assembled wall sections, at the lower ends of the stiles 1 and along the lower side of the lower cross rail 3`, may rest upon and be suitablyv secured in .any convenient manner to a substantially .usual floor strip 9, which inturn may be secured to the floor of `the building. A-lso a substantially usual ceiling strip 10 is secured to the ceiling and is shown in the drawing, Figs. 1 and 2, as being some distance above the upper ends of the assembled wall sections, as determined by the upper ends of their stiles 1 and their upper cross rails 2. It will be noted, as indicated in Fig. 1 and as clearly shown in Figs. 2. 3 and 5. that the stiles.1 belonging to the adjacent consecutive wall sections are spaced from one another to a considerable extent.

The spaced stiles 1 o f the adjacentA sections are rigidly and firmly but detachablyI secured together or to one another by means of-clamping devices which bridge the space between these Stiles and have a firm and secure interlocking engagement therewith. without the need of drilling any holes in the stiles and also without relying merely upon rietional engagement. Each of these stiles 1 is formed from a suitably heavy strip of sheet metal such as steel. This stile 1 is in general ofa channel shape continuously and uniformly throughout its length. Thus the stile 1 has edge flanges 11 which are turned I'ight angularly outward from its web portion, which is flat and directed inwardly of the section towards its panel. This web of the stile at the middle thereof between the lianges 11 is indented outwardly to form a substantially rectangular panel-holding groove or channel 12. this groove 12 therebyv forming a longitudinal ridge at the outer side of the stile, the outer surface of this ridge being flat and shown as substantially in alignment with edges of the flanges 11. The side walls of this ridge-forming groove 12 are shown as parallel throughout their major parts, but are indented outwardly immediately adjacent to the flat bottom of this groove there to form at each side of the ridge a lateral bead 13. These outer ridges formed by the panel-holding groove 12, together with their lateral beads 13, are utilized for connecting together the spaced Stiles of the adjacent sections by means of the clamping devices above noted.

The clamping devices for connecting together the spaced stiles 1 of the adjacent wall sections may be of slightly different construction towards the upper part of the wall formed by these connected sections as compared with the lclamping devices which may be used 'adjacent to the lower part of this wall,' although the clamping devices used adjacent to the upper ends of the stiles could as well also be used adjacent to (their lower ends if so desired, but do not need be and accordingly in the drawing slightly variant forms of these clamping devices have been shown. In the particular partition wall construction embodying the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the two uppermost of these clamping devices are of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, while the lowermost, or as indicated in Fig. 1 it may be the two lowermost, clamping devices are of the slightly different form shown in Fig. 5.

The clamping device shown more partieu larly in Fig. 5,' which may be used for connecting, together 'the'lower end portions of the spaced Stiles 1 of adjacent wall sections, comprises a pair of laterally spaced lhorrizontalclips 14 which are shown as straight or flat throughout their middle portions while their end portions 15 areoset towards each other for these respective clips. These Oifset end portions 15 engage in clamping relation with the opposite sides of the ridges spective Stiles 1. These clips 14 are firmly l drawn towards each other and into clamping and interlocking engagement with the ridges of the Stiles and their lateral beads 13, by means of a pair of bolts or screws 16 which, as shown in Fig. 5, pass freely through one of these clips 14 and are screwed throughl the companion clip 14, just inwardly from the offset clamping ends 15 of these clips and near to the Hat outer surfaces of the ridges provided by the panel-holding grooves 12 in the stiles 1.

The clamping device for connecting together the upper end portions of the adjacent stiles 1 of the consecutive wall sections, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 more particularly,

:comprises a pair of clip members 17 having and operation is the same as above described with reference to the lower clips 14. However, these clips 17 in their middle portions are formed with substantially U-shaped rectangular yokes which open inwardly tofirmly but detachably connecting the spaced stiles 1 together, it bein noted in this connection that the headso the screws or bolts 16 and 19 are readily accessible between the flanges 11 ofthe stiles for conveniently either installing these clamping devices or for their removal. The clamping clips 17 of the two upper pairs of clamping devices also havea further important particular functlon 1n carrying out the invention. y

The yoke portions 20 of the two uppermost pairs of the clamping clips 17 snugly engage with and firmly clamp between them the lower end portion of a substantially rigid stiflening member for the upper portion of the wall construction, whlch extends downward from an upper or overhead part of the building above the upper ends of the stiles 1 and of the wall sections of which these stiles form a frame part. These stiffening members are shown as I-bars .21 eX- tending downward from the lower side of the ceiling strip 10 between the adjacent spaced stiles 1, to the upper portions of whleh this I-bar 21 is rigidly connected by meansof the clips 17. It will be noted that these stiffening bars 21 extend downward only 1 nto part way overlapping relation with the stile's 1 and the extent of this downward overlapping relation may be varied and made more or less according, in any particular instance,

to the height of the ceiling or other upper part of the building from the upper ends of the Stiles 1 and wall sections. As shown 1n the drawing, the lower ends of. these stiftening members 21 terminate at a point above the middle of the height or upward length of the wall sections having the stiles 1.

A holding device is' provided to engage with the upper end of the stifening member 21 to prevent lateral or transverse movement thereof, in order that thereby this stifening member may be effective to perform its function of stifiening the upper portion of the wall along the upper ends or top rails 2 of the wall formed by the connected wall sections. Any suitable means desired may be utilized for this purpose, of which only one of several suitable constructions is shown in the drawing. The construction of this feature shown in the drawing comprises an eyebolt or large screw-eye 22 which is screwed upwardly into the ceiling strip 10, and a substantially ordinary bolt 23 which passes through the eye of the screw bolt 22 andthrough a hole drilled in the Web of the Ibar 21 vnear its upper end, this` bolt 23 being held in place by a nut 24 thereon, as shown in Fig. 2.

The space above the top rail 2 of the wall sections up to the ceiling may be closed by means of substantially usual filler members. In Fig. lof the drawing there is shown a single continuous filler strip 25, although obviously this filler strip 25 could as well be in tie form of sections or panels if so desire At each side or face of the wall formed by the adjacent connected sections a sheetv metal pilaster 26 forms a readily attachable and detachable face plate which covers thespace between the edges of the flanges 11 of the connected spaced stiles 1. This pilaster 26 has fiat flange portions 27 turned over inward to lie against the outer flat sides of these stile flanges 11, with the edge-portions of these pilaster flanges 27 turned inward in substantially S form thereby formingsnap catches 28 which, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, have a detachable snap engagement with the edges of the stile flanffes 11. These pilasters 26, as will be obvious lrom the drawing, may be easily snapped into place after the above described clam ing clips 14 and 17 and the stiffening mem ers 21 have been secured in place in their assembled relation with the spaced stiles 1, while these pilasters 26 may be as readily unsnapped or pulled off for gaining free access to the clamping screws 16 and 19 in disassembling the wall sections or Whenever desired for any purpose whatever.

While for conservation of space, only four consecutively assembled wall sections are shown in Fig. 1, it is of course to be understood that this sectional wall of similar con'- struction may be extended to any length whatsoever. Also, while in Fig. 1 the I-bar stiffening members 21 are shown as applied4 between each consecutive pair of spaced stilesbelonging to consecutive sections, it should be-understood that in some instances if desired a lesser number of these stiffening members 21 could 'be used. The construction shown provides a maximum of stifening of the wall against yielding. However, for eX- ample, the invention might be carried out by employing a stiffening member 21 only between the stiles of alternate pairs of the wall sections. It is to be understood that the ceiling strip 10 may beomitted, and in such case the holding devices for the upper ends of the stiffening members 21 may be secured directly to the ceiling, or other upper part of the'building, as is obvious from the drawing.

Other features of the sectional partition Wall shown in the drawing are fully shown and claimed in my copending applications for patent filed on even date herewith as nol Seriali No. 478 67 4, for a anel. frame const-ruction, and erial No. 4 8,675, for a partition wall construction.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown in the drawing and above particularly described, within the principle and scope of the invention as defined 1n the appended claims.

I claim i l. In a partition wall, the combinatlon of a consecutive series of structurally independent wall sections each having a frame the stiles of which are metal channels the fianges of which project from the edges of the sections, each of the stiles being provided with a panel-holding groove which forms a ridge between the said iianges, each of the said ridges being provided with lateral beads which project towards the respective ianges of the channel, the said stiles of adjacent sections being spaced from one another, a vertical series of clamping devices bridging the space, between and detachably connecting together the said spaced stiles, each of these clamping devices comprising a pair of clip members having their ends shaped to engage with the respective opposite sides of the said ridges and with the beads formed thereon, together with screw means for drawing these clip members into clamping and locking relation with the said ridges and their beads, a substantially rigid vertical stii'ening member extending downward froma point above the upper ends of the said spaced stiles and between the clip members of at least two of the said clamping devices and firmly but detachably gripped by the said clip 'members with the said stiening member terminating at its lower end above the lower ends of the said stiles, and a holding device for the upper end of the said stifi'ening member secured to an upper part of the building and engaging withtheupperendofthe said sti'ening member to restrain the latter 'against horizontal movement transversely of the said wall thereby to stiffen the wall along the upper ends of the said connected sections.

2. Ina partition wall, the combination of a consecutive series of structurally independent wall sections each having a frame the stiles of which are metal channels the flanges of which project from the edges of the sections, the said Stiles of adjacent sections being spaced from one another, a vertical series of clamping devices bridgingthe space between these spaced stiles and rigidly but detachably connecting them together, a substantially rigid vertical stiiening member extending downward from a point above the upper ends of the connected sections between two of the said spaced Stiles of adjacent sections and firmly but detachably gripped by at least two of the said clamping devices and terminating at its lower' end above the lower ends of the said stiles, a holding device for the upper end of the-said stifenin member secured to an upper part of the bui ding and engaging with the upper end of the said stiiening member to restrain the latter a ainst horizontal movement transversely of t e said wall thereby to stiilen the wall along the upper ends of the said connected sections, and at each face of the wall a sheet metal pilaster' forming a face plate to cover the space between the anges of the respective spaced stiles, the said pilaster being shaped at its edges to have a detachable snap engagement with the edges of the said anges of the respective spaced Stiles.

3. In apartition wall, the combination of' a consecutive series of structurally independent wall sections each having a frame with metal Stiles provided with fianges which project from the edges of the sections, the Stiles of adjacent sections'being spaced from one another, detachable connecting means bridging the space between the stiles of adjacent sections and rigidly but detachably connecting these stiles together, a substantially rigid 4 vertical stifening member extending downward from a point above the upper ends of the connected sections between two of the spaced stiles of adjacent sections and rigidly but detachably held by the said ,connecting means, means for preventing transverse movement otthe upper end of the said stifening member thereby to s'tiien the wall along the upper ends of the said connected sections, and at each face of the wall a sheet metal pilaster forming a face plate to-cover theA space between the ianges of the respective spaced Stiles, the said pilaster being shaped at its edges to have a detachable snap engageyse ment with the edges of the said flanges of the respective spaced stiles.

4. In a partition Wall, the combination of a consecutive series of structurally complete" independent unitary wall sections arranged in edge to edge relation, means for detacha- ,Y

bly securing the adjacent vertical edges of the respective sections to one another along their length thereby to orm an assembled wall structure, a substantially rigid vertical stiening member extending downward from a point at a distance above the upper ends of the said assembled sections into part way overlapping relation with one of the said sections and detachably secured to the said ius section against movement relative thereto in in ed e to edge relation and each having a comp ete individual frame including a pair of stiles, the stiles belonging to adjacent sections being opposed to one another, a substantially rigid vertical stiii'ening member extending downward from a point at a distance above the upper ends of and directly between the two adjacent stiles belonging respectively to two of the adjacent .sections into part way downward overlapping relation with these Stiles, means for firmly but detachably securing these two stiles to one another below the lower end of said member, means in common for rmly but detachably securing these two Stiles to one another and to the lower overlapping end portion of the said member so as to prevent relative transverse movement of said stiles and member, and means separate from and at a distance above the upper ends of the said sections secured to anupper part of the building and engaging with the upper end of the said member to hold the latter againsthorizontal movement in a direction transverse to the sections and wall so that thereby the upper part of the said wall will be stii'ened by the said vmember against yielding.

6. In a partition wall, the combination of a consecutlve series of structurally complete independent* unitary wall sections each having a complete individual frame includmg a pair of Stiles, the said sections being arranged in the wall in edge to edge relation and the stiles which belong respectively to two of the adjacent sections being spaced from one another in the plane of the wall, detachable securing means bridging the said space between the stiles belonging .respectively to adjacent sections and rigidly but detachably securing these two stiles to one another thereby to form an assembled wall structure, a substantially rigid vertical stili'ening member extending downward from a point at a distance above the upper ends of the assembled sections into part way overlapping relation directly between two of the stiles belonging respectively to two of the adjacent sections and rigidly but detachably directly held by the said securing means, and means for preventing transverse movement of the upper end of the said member so that thereby the upper part of the wall formed by the assembled sections will bestiiiened.

7. In a partition wall, the combination of a consecutive series of structurally complete independent unitary wall sections arranged in edge to edge relation and each having a complete individual frame including Stiles, the Stiles belonging respectively to adjacent sections being opposed to and spaced from one another in the plane of the wall, a vertical series of separate spacedclamping devices bridging the space between these spaced Stiles and rigidly but detachably connecting them to one another, thereby to form an asat least the two uppermost of the said clamping devices and terminating at its lower end above the lower ends of the said stiles, and a holding device for the upper end of the said member secured to an upper part of the building at a distance above the upper ends of the said stiles and engaging with the u per end of the said member to restrain 1t against horizontal movement in a direction transverse to thesaid wall thereby to stiilen the wall along the upper ends of the said assembled sections.

8. In a partition wall, the combination of a consecutive series of structurally independent wall sections each having a frame the stiles of which are metal channels the flanges of which project from the edges of the sections, each of the Stiles being provided with a panel-holding groove in the panel side thereof which forms a rid e between the said flanges, the side walls cig each ofl the said ridges being shaped throughout their length to provide locking portions which project laterally towards the respective flanges of the channel, the said stiles of adjacent sections being spaced from one another, a vertical series of spaced clamping devices bridging the space between and detachably securing together the said spaced stiles, each of these clamping devices comprising a pair of opposed spaced clip members having their ends shaped to have clamping interlocking engagement with the respective opposite-sides of the said ridges and with the said locking portions thereof, clamp screws accessible between the langes and passing between the ridges of the said spaced stiles for drawing these clip members into clamping and interlocking relation with the side walls of the said ridges and with their said laterally projecting locking portions thereby to form an assembled wall structure, a substantially rigid vertical stiflening member extending downward from a point above the upper ends of the said spaced Stiles and between the clip members of at least two of the said clamping devices and firmly but detachably gripped by the said clip members with the said stili'ening member terminating at its lower end above the lower ends of the said stiles, and

a holding'device for the upper end of the said stiliening member secured to an upper part of the building and engaging with the upper end of the said stili'ening member to restrain the latter against horizontal movement transversely of the said wall thereby to stilien the wall along the upper ends of the said assembled sections.

9. In a partition wall, the combination of a consecutlveseries of structurally independent wall sections each having a frame the Stiles of which are metal channels the flanges of which pro'ect from the edges of the sections, the sai Stiles of adjacent Sections being spaced from one another, a vertlcal se: ries of clamping devices bridgmg the space between these spaced Stiles and rigidly but detachably connecting them toe her, a substantially rigid vertical stiifemng member extendin downward from a point above the upper en s of the connected sections between two of the said s aced Stiles of adjacent sections and firmly ut detachably ipped by at least two of the Said clamping evices and terminating at its lower end above the lower ends of the Said Stiles, and a holding device for the upper end of the said Stiiening member secured to an upper part of the buildin and engaging with t e upper end of the sai stiiening member to restrain the latter against horizontal movement transversely of the Said wall thereby to stiilen the wall along the upper ends of the said connected sections. 10. In a partition wall, the combination of a consecutive series of structurally independent wall sections each having a frame with metal Stiles provided with flan es which project from the edges ofthesections, the Stiles of adjacent sections being spaced from one another, detachable connecting means bridging the space between the stiles of adjacent sections and rigidly but detachably connecting these stiles together, a substantially rigid vertical stifening member extending Vdownward from a point above the'upper ends of the connected sections between two of the spaced Stiles of adjacent sections and rigidly but detachably held by the said connecting means, and means for preventing transverse movement of the upper end of the said Stiening member thereby to stilfen the wall v along the upper ends of the said connected sections.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

LOUIS L. LEVENE. 

